Ospreys no match for ruthless Leinster.

Peter Burke at the RDS

It was the perfect evening for a game of rugby, the sun was shining, got the lift to the ground, grabbed a couch in the Herbert Park Hotel and began writing some notes. So Ospreys are currently third In Pool 2 of the Challenge Cup not bad but not really good enough to trouble Leinster with a team boasting what 10 players starting from first choice selection.

A fun moment was standing beside an American couple who were very obviously here on holidays but enjoying the evening and the game: ‘Wow that’s awesome play I wonder what the number 12 does?’

It was a steady start by Leinster with Ronan Kelleher and Jimmy O’Brien combining to good effect before the latter raced home from 70 metres out for Leinster’s third-minute breakthrough try, a magnificent sight.

It wasn’t long after that Ross Molony went over benefitting from some excellent work by Doris to bag a second try for Leinster. Ross Byrne had his kicking boots on and the lead was 14 to the hosts but like everything in sport this didn’t last that long.

Outside centre Owen Watkin got Ospreys up and running with a converted try on 14 minutes and the Ospreys followed up with an equalising score moments later, Leinsters fans could just wonder as to what was going on here.

Shortly after fly-half Dan Edwards landed a cross field kick into the arms of Luke Morgan on the right-wing and it was obvious , after consulting with the  TMO Andrew McMenemy, referee Sam Grove-White made the decision that Ciaran Frawley had tackled his opponent in the air beyond the Leinster line and a penalty was awarded.

A grubber kick by Byrne on 27 minutes, and  Larmour supplied the finishing touches for a try that propelled Leinster into the sheds at 21-14.

Leinster started the second half as they finished the first with a bang.

Jason Jenkins the South African lock burst over the Ospreys line after Jimmy O’Brien made a break and and it was never in doubt.

Leo and Co started to bring on the replacements and to great effect with Leinster’s fifth try in the 54th-minute. Robbie Henshaw picked out Larmour on the right tram line after finding gaps deep inside the Ospreys half and though he had a lot of work to do, the phone box dancer fooled them all before doubling his tally for the game

Larmour’s hat-trick score on 77 minutes, Jamie Osborne, Charlie Nagatai and Tommy O’Brien crossed the whitewash to round off a comprehensive win for the boys in blue.

15,750 turned out to watch Leinster tonight, along with 3 young girls who asked themselves ‘Could we like get towels or something for the seats cause they don’t look clean’

Anyway on we go to the next game towels and all.

Final score Leinster 61 – 14 Ospreys